Social Distancing while Running


I have been asked multiple times if I am still (trail) running during Oregon's Shelter in Place orders. The short answer is: yes, I am. But the longer answer is: yes, I am but this is what I am doing to maintain social distance while running.... 

My approach to how I handle social distancing on the trails in Forest Park changes daily / weekly as we get new information and guidance from places like the CDC, WHO, etc. 

I plan on runs taking longer, because I am slowing down and letting people pass. Unless you are on Leif Erikson or any of the Firelanes the trail is probably not 6 feet across, so it's impossible to maintain the recommend 6 feet. 

So what am I doing? I try and run durning non-peak times or I try and run at the north end of the park, which tends to be less crowded. But neither of these guarantee I won't see another human on the trail. When people come towards me on the trail, I don't assume they are going to pull over for me. I move as far off the trail as I can and turn my back to the trail. I wave or give thumbs up instead of talking and letting out more droplets.  If I am passing someone, I get over as far as I can and I either walk or jog slowly with my mouth shut. I feel like if I run by breathing hard out of my mouth I am exposing people to more droplets. I am not running in a mask, I have run with my buff around my neck a lot. But I am not sure pulling the buff up and down is any better than running without it. 

For the most part I feel like most people in Forest Park doing similar things and being really courteous and following the social distancing recommendations. But there are a few people who think they can just speed by everyone breathing heavily and not even moving over, they make me so mad. 

I have been able to maintain 50+ mile weeks, but again I am adjusting how and when I run almost every day. I would love to hear what everyone else is doing.


And since it has been awhile since I posted a new route, here is a ~24 mile route. 

Firelane 1 - WW: .33
WW - Maple: 2.06
Maple - Leif: 3.07
Leif - Hardesty: 2.58
Hardstey - Firelane 7: .55
Firelane 7 - Springville: .12
Springville - WW: .33
WW - Satlzman: 6.5
Saltzman - Leif: .50
Leif - Firelane 4: 1.09
Firelane 4- Maple: .21
Maple - Leif: .97
Leif - Alder: 2.69
Alder - WW: .84
WW - Morak: 1.26
Morak - Firelane 1: .25
Firelane 1 - Car: .08
Total: 23.43

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